About this course
Themes of recent songs by Taylor Swift and Demi Lovato demonstrate the wisdom they each now have as adults when reflecting on age-discrepant relationships as teenagers. Swift writes in Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve, “If you would've blinked then I would've, looked away at the first glance. If you tasted poison, you could've spit me out at the first chance. If I was some paint, did it splatter, on a promising grown man? And if I was a child, did it matter, if you got to wash your hands? All I used to do was pray, would've, could've, should've, if you'd never looked my way.” And Lovato writes in 29, “Finally twenty-nine, Seventeen would never cross my mind, Thought it was a teenage dream, a fantasy, But it was yours, it wasn't mine.” Research typically reflects greater prevalence of adult/teen relationships in low income populations, but social media responses to both of these songs reflects a more common experience in a variety of populations.
This presentation delves into the complex and multifaceted subject of age-discrepant relationships, power dynamics, and intimate partner violence (IPV) in adolescent relationships to shed light on the prevalence of adults dating teenagers, the potential harms, and how survivors of these relationships perceive them in adulthood. Additionally, the presentation provides essential clinical skills for therapists who work with survivors of IPV and specifically adults that have experienced age gap relationships during their teenage years. By understanding these dynamics and impacts, therapists can develop informed and tailored interventions that facilitate healing and growth for survivors of these relationships during their teenage years. Through empathetic and skillful therapeutic practices, therapists play a vital role in supporting survivors on their journey toward recovery and empowerment.
